Saturday, February 22, 2014

I've been hearing a rumor about my old cutter, the USCGC Tamaroa. Her present owner intends to sink her as part of an artifical reef off the coast of Delaware. I was asked if there was anything on board that I would like as a keep sake. A couple years ago, I donated a Flag showing the Great Seal of the Zuni Nation to the ship since she was originally commissioned as the USS ZUNI. If the flag can be recovered, I'd like it back. But that's about it.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

I've been transcribing Minnie's diary for a few weeks now. Initially I thought it might be hard to get into it; however, I found that not doing it for a week because of the snow storms made me restless. I started looking up her and her family on the internet and found her in two Federal Census, two state census and a steam ship roster in 1925. So I have a bit of information of her and her family from 1900 to 1926 so far.

Her husband Fred has no occupation listed, she is listed as a House Wife and their son Fredy (sic) works for Harley Davidson Motor Cycle Co. She has an affiliation with a real estate company collecting rent and paying bills on a building in Manhattan.She makes frequennt trips to Manhattan via ferry and train. Minnie is also a social butterfly. Her memberships in various clubs are numerous. Also there are two adopted children living in the house hold.

The diary is getting interesting showing life in Rockland County in 1926. Will continue my internet search tomorrow.

ADDENDUM
5:25 AM February 22, 2014. I can't sleep so here is more Torkler family info. Fred Sr. Registered for the draft in September of 1918. Fred senior was stocky, blue eyes and brown hair. Fred jr. died in Haverstraw in 1967. Minnie's maiden name was Wortz they were married on January 26, 1896.............

Friday, February 14, 2014

We've had about 6 snow storms in 6 weeks, the last three pretty close together. I'm a bit nervous because there is about 2 feet of snow in the back yard so I am wondering about the pressure/stress on the flat roof of my house. Well, almost flat, it is about a 4 inch pitch. The roof is fairly new. We stripped down to the rafters (air) about 6 years ago and put new plywood and roofing membrane down.

In the course of worrying about all this snow, I discovered something fun and interesting. We put a bird feeder up. I'm not an expert but we have identified Juncos, a female Cardinal, a Mourning Dove, sparrows, Chick-a-dees and a Tufted Titmouse. They are hilarious to watch. The drained the seed from the feeder pretty quick. At one point we had 40-50- birds flitting about. When it got low, a few of them actually perched on the Feeder arm as if to say "It's time for a refill." The snow was so deep, I could barely get the back door open, but finally managed it and we refilled the feeder, they waited a bit then came back to feast some more. We have a bird book in the house somewhere, I'll have to find it and put it by the back window.